Life Lessons from Karaoke

Every Friday there is karaoke at the Penguin International Hotel starting from 8 pm in New Amsterdam. I spent a good amount of Fridays there the last three or so months of last year. I have been there every Friday since I returned to Guyana. There are many regulars there you see every week; some are there every other week; and then you have those who are there once a month or less. Those who are there every other week or weekly have now decided that I am a regular. They enjoy hearing the white girl sing, and they know I am a music teacher so they come over and ask for tips and opinions on their performances. It is kind of fun, and I have made some new friends. I have enjoyed having this weekly get away. Last year it was like pulling teeth to try to get me to sing. Now I sing 3-6 songs a week. I have a few that I sing on a regular basis and I try out some new ones usually. Guyanese karaoke is a very unique experience to say the least. Last night as I was sitting in my usual boot (yes I even have a usual booth) with some friends I have made over my time in Guyana I was making it a point to observe my surroundings. As I have been reflecting on what I saw I thought of different life lessons that I could see coming out before me. I thought I would share those with you today.

1. Sometimes to get out your emotions you just have to yell.

2. Hopeless romantic love is still out there.

3. Sometimes you just have to let it go.

4. Who cares what other people think, as long as you are staying true to yourself.

5. You don’t always have to have a dance partner in life. You can do those slow dances on your own and be happy.

6. No one is perfect. Sometimes you go a little flat, other times you sing in three keys at once.

7. We are all going through this crazy thing called life together, we have to help each other out.

8. Sometimes when you screw up you just need to dance.

This list may not completely make sense, but it does to me and it is a good reminder to me. I will continue to go to karaoke on a regular basis. Will I go every Friday? Maybe, maybe not. I have made friends that are not connected to GLMA by going and it is fun to do something different once in a while.

What do I sing at karaoke you ask? Well, it has taken me a while, but I have finally started to create a list and keep it on my phone. When someone asks me to sing at karaoke my mind goes to blank as to songs I know or the names of songs. As I create lists I bold the ones that they don’t have at the Penguin, but they might have at another karaoke place that has a different DJ. Here is my list as it stands so far (I don’t know all of the artists, but I will list the ones I know).

·     

          *Royals-Lorde

·         Party in the USA - Miley Cyrus

·         Rolling in the Deep - Adele

·         Hello - Adele

·         Titanium - David Guetra

·         Let It Go – from Frozen

·         Cups (You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone) – from Pitch Perfect

·         Do You Want to Build a Snowman – from Frozen

·         *Hallelujah – Alexandra Burke

·         Bohemian Rapsody -Queen (This one was epic! Just ask Twyla!)

·         Bad Romance – Lady Gaga

·         Don’t Stop Believing – Journey

·         All Star -Smash Mouth (In honor of Dan Sailer)

·         Rude

·         These Boots were made for Walking

·         Cheerleader

·         Where is the Love – Black Eyed Peas

·         You and Me Goin’ Fishin’ in the Dark -Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

·         Just the Way You Are – Bruno Mars

·         All of Me – John Legend

·         Man, I Feel Like a Women – Shania Twain

·         Bubbly – Colbie Calliat

·         Lean On Me

·         Miss Independent – Kelly Clarkson

·         Girlfriend – Avril Lavigne

·         Grace Kelly – Mika

·         Before He Cheats – Carie Underwood

·         I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers

·         You’ll Be in my Heart -Phil Collins

·         Mamma Mia -Meryl Streep

·         Dancing Queen

·         Tied Together with a Smile – Taylor Swift

·         Part of Me – Katy Perry

·         For Good – from Wicked (duet)

·         What is this Feeling – from Wicked (duet)

·         Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay

·         Happy

·         Uptown Funk

·         Stand by Me

·         Picture (duet)

·         I Believe I Can Fly

·         Kryptonite – 3Doors Down

·         Since You Been Gone – Kelly Clarkson

·         It’s My Life

·         Behind These Hazel Eyes – Kelly Clarkson

·         Amazed

·         Summer of ‘69

·         I’ll Make a Man Out of You – from Mulan

*one of my signature songs

I keep adding to my list each week. J

One of our choir students singing at karaoke

Twyla and I spent some quality time together at karaoke on  my first Friday in country.

Billy, one of our students hanging out with us

Hard to see #selfie at karaoke

This man is Rick. He became friends with Dan and I the first time we went to karaoke last year. He has an awesome voice! We tried to get him to join choir last year, but he spends half the year in the States, so it didn't work out.

He always sings loves songs to his wife and usually gets her to slow dance with him while he sings to her. #truelove